In 1998, I approved grants of over £3.863 million from subhead W (Islands) of the Vote of my Department for various capital projects aimed at the economic and social development of the inhabited offshore islands. Current expenditure approved under the same subhead amounted to almost £0.696 million. A full list of these approvals is being forwarded to the Deputy.
An amount of approximately £0.9 million was also approved by my Department in 1998 from subhead E (Gaeltacht marine works) towards major marine improvement works on Tory Island, County Donegal.
In addition my Department has facilitated island communities in relation to certain health, education and social welfare issues, particularly through the Interdepartmental Committee on the Islands, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Language which co-ordinates Government policy in relation to the islands.